Brazil hit by World Cup stadium deaths

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World Cup stadium collapses in Brazil

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State media: 30% of the stadium will be closed off as authorities investigate

A crane hoisting a piece of roofing collapsed at the Arena Corinthians

Two workers were killed

The accident comes as Brazil tries to meet a deadline for completing its stadiums

A construction accident at the site of the Brazilian stadium that will host the opening match of the World Cup killed two workers, Sao Paulo fire officials said Wednesday.

Officials initially said there were three victims, but the fire department amended the death toll on its Twitter account.

The Arena Corinthians is one of the venues that will host World Cup matches in 2014.

A crane was hoisting a part of the metal roof when it collapsed, causing the piece to fall, partially damaging the building, according to a statement released by the construction company, Odebrecht Infrastructure.

It was a procedure that had been carried out many times at the construction site without incident, including the installation a week ago of a piece of roof of the same proportions, the company said.

The stadium is to be the home of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. The club's directors issued a statement expressing sadness over the incident.

The accident comes as Brazil faces an approaching deadline to finish construction on its World Cup stadiums.

Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics 18 photos

Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The Arena Castelao is the first stadium ready for the eight-nation Confederations Cup in June 2013. The competition, which is a dress rehearsal for the the 2014 World Cup, will bring together four former world champions.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – View of the Governador Magalhaes Pinto stadium during renovation works, in Belo Horizonte. The stadium will host both the Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Picture of the famed Maracana football stadium in Rio de Janeiro as renovation works for the 2014 World Cup -- including the construction of a roof -- gets under way. The Maracana is classified as a historic monument so the facade will be maintained but a roof will be added to the five-storey oval stadium.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Picture taken during the refurbishment works held at the Mario Filho 'Maracana' stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A huge inflatable Fuleco, the mascot of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, stands by the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 15, 2013.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A worker swings a hammer inside 'Arena Fonte Nova' stadium in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil on December 6, 2012 before next June's eight-nation Confederations Cup.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A construction worker at the site of the Itaquerao football stadium which will host the opening football matches of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Brasilia's National Stadium under construction on December 13, 2012. The National Stadium will receive the first match of the eight-nation Confederations Cup matches on June 2013.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A panel marks the exact place of the kick off for the next FIFA World Cup 2014.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo attends a press conference on November 29, 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The trophy of the FIFA World Cup 2014, brought to Brazil by former Brazilian football player Cafu from the FIFA headqueaters in Switzerland, is displayed at Morumbi shopping center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 22, 2012.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Police commandos from an anti-kidnapping unit, arrest and control a group of 'terrorists' during a drill at the Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 13, 2012.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – People chant slogans during a protest against the demolition of the Celio de Barros track and field stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 13, 2013. The stadium needs to be demolished to carry out the Maracana stadium construction plans ahead of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic games.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The Rio 2016 Olympics logo is seen on a wall of the future Olympic Park in construction in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 20, 2012.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Carlos Arthur Nuzman (left), Brazilian Olympic Committee President and Rio 2016 Olympics Committee President, shakes hands with London 2012 Chief Executive Paul Deighton after delivering the IOC debriefing of the London 2012 Olympic Games for the foreign press in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – People hold a huge banner during a demonstration demanding that Brazilian President Dilma Roussef veto a bill that would redistribute oil royalties in favor of non-oil producing states.

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Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics18 photos

Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The construction site of the future Olympic village for the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 20, 2012, Brazil.

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Brazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Journalists are shown a virtual tour of the city organized by the Rio 2016 Committee on November 19, 2012 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

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The business behind the World Cup

Earlier this year, FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke declared that all stadiums would have to be ready by December. The tournament is to be held from June 12 to July 13.

In August, Brazil's sports minister, Aldo Rebelo, relayed concerns over delays at five of the stadiums being built.

It was unknown how much Wednesday's incident would affect the construction of the Arena Corinthians.

The state-run Agencia Brasil news agency reported that about a third of the stadium will be closed off as officials investigate the accident. Workers were excused for several days of mourning.

"We are less concerned with timelines," Andres Sanchez, the former president of Corinthians, told reporters, according to Agencia Brasil. "We are concerned about satisfying you and attending to the victims' families."

Brazil suffered a setback last month when a judge ordered the suspension of construction at another host venue due to safety concerns.

The judge stopped work at the Arena de Baixada, in the city of Curitiba, over concerns that workers were in danger of "being buried, run over, falling from heights and being hit by material, among other serious risks."

Preparations for the World Cup have been controversial in Brazil.

Protesters are outraged at what they consider lavish spending on the World Cup as well as the 2016 Olympic Games.

They have also been critical of the lack of investment in public services, schools, hospitals and transportation. That led thousands to march earlier this year on the streets across the country.